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NIH Collaboratory workshop recordings on ePCT’s effects on healthcare systems now available

Posted on by Jeannine Sato

Multiple principal investigator Vince Mor, PhD was part of an NIH Collaboratory workshop entitled “Getting the Right Evidence to Decision-Makers Faster” held June 20-21, 2023. Mor was part of a panel of experts addressing “How Have Health Systems Made Decisions Based on Evidence Collected in PCTs?”

The 2-day workshop explored how researchers share evidence with healthcare system decision-makers to implement the findings of pragmatic clinical trials conducted within healthcare systems.

To access the workshop summary, materials and recordings, visit the NIH Collaboratory website.

Observing the impact of personalized music on agitated behaviors in dementia patients

Posted on by Jeannine Sato

Using Structured Observations to Evaluate the Effects of a Personalized Music Intervention on Agitated Behaviors and Mood in Nursing Home Residents With Dementia: Results From an Embedded, Pragmatic Randomized Controlled Trial

November 2, 2023

Authors, including IMPACT members, Roee Gutman, PhD, Vincent Mor, PhD, James Rudolph, MD, SM, Rosa Baier, MPH, and Ellen McCreedy, PhD, MPH explored whether implementation of a personalized music intervention decreased the frequency of agitated behaviors in nursing home residents with dementia. They measured impact by using structured observations conducted as part of a randomized controlled trial design.

The authors found that personalized music decreased the frequency of verbally agitated behaviors in residents randomized to receive the treatment compared to residents randomized to a usual care control. No effect of the intervention was found on physically agitated behaviors. The intervention also increased observed pleasure.

This study provides evidence for the effectiveness of a non-pharmacological intervention for temporary relief in verbal behaviors in nursing home residents with dementia.

Read the full article.

New documentary featuring María Aranda, PhD, MSW, explores the impact of Alzheimer’s Disease on Hispanic and Latino population

Posted on by Jeannine Sato

IMPACT Health Equity Team associate leader María Aranda, PhD, MSW, MPA, LCSW, is featured in, “Our America: Unforgettable,” a new documentary special produced by ABC Owned Television Stations in partnership with ABC News. The program provides insight into what life is like for families facing Alzheimer’s disease and presents the alarming data of the disease through a Hispanic and Latino lens.

According to the Alzheimer’s Association, people from Hispanic and Latino populations are 1.5x more likely than non-Hispanic White people to develop Alzheimer’s and other dementias. In this hour-long special, two families share their experiences on caregiving, and experts in the field, including Dr. Aranda, describe the disparities impacting Hispanic and Latino populations in relation to Alzheimer’s disease. They explore questions about why Alzheimer’s disease manifests differently and more frequently in these communities and describe greater inclusion in research and clinical trials as an essential way of answering these questions and improving care.

Learn more about the program and access the full video here or find it streaming on ABC services. Watch the trailer on YouTube. The episode includes close captioning in both Spanish and English.

IMPACT members to present at two-day workshop exploring serious illness care

Posted on by Jeannine Sato

IMPACT members, including multiple principal investigator Vince Mor, PhD, Antonia Bennett, PhD, Kathleen Unroe, MD, and Scott Halpern, MD, PhD are participating in a two-day public workshop organized by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, November 2-3, 2023 in Washington DC.

The workshop will explore existing evidence, knowledge gaps and opportunities to advance future research for serious illness care. The workshop is titled “Serious Illness Care Research: Exploring Current Knowledge, Emerging Evidence and Future Directions.”

Presentations and discussions will focus on:

  • Inclusive research approaches to advance health equity in care
  • Safe and effective therapies to address pain and other physical and psychological symptoms
  • Quality measurement for serious illness
  • The integration of behavioral/mental health care into serious illness care, delivery models that address the patient and family needs
  • Opportunities for research coordination and collaboration

View the full agenda and register.